Streatham’s first interfaith circus event

Revd Sarah Simpson, Vicar at Immanuel and St Andrew Church, Streatham, writes:

When someone asks if you would be interested in hosting an event involving a female Jewish Rabbi who is also an aerial circus artist is there anything to be said but, yes? This opportunity presented itself through a conversation with Rabbi Nathan Godleman from the South London Liberal Synagogue who wanted to invite Rabbi Miri Lawrence and a band of performers but did not have a suitable space. So, on a balmy Saturday evening in Immanuel and St Andrew’s church hall our two faith communities came together full of anticipation and excitement.

We were not disappointed; the show was spectacular. Rabbi Miri and her band of performers from My Aerial Home circus school told us the story of the Blumenfeld’s, a German Jewish family of travelling actors and performers and the circus they founded in 1811. We were dazzled by acrobats on aerial silks, climbing and spinning and hanging upside down with core strength and agility I can only dream of. There was tightrope walking and mischievous horses, comedy strongmen and plenty of audience participation too. I’m not sure many people can say they have been to an event where a Rabbi played the fiddle while hanging from a hoop and a Priest walked a tightrope (okay, so in my case I was holding on to two glamorous assistants who kept me steady as I had a go).

Afterwards we mingled and shared refreshments and those who wanted to have a go at the circus skills had the opportunity. Members of the synagogue and the church reflected on the joy of joining together for this social time, breaking down barriers and building